Chicago Blues Festival 2025: Full Schedule, Host, Lineup, Performances and More

The 2025 Chicago Blues Festival is back and bigger than ever, so get ready to feel the beat, Chicago. The full schedule for the largest free blues festival in the world, which will return to Millennium Park and other citywide locations from June 5 to June 8, has been revealed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

The Chicago Blues Festival, a significant addition to the city’s summer schedule, is preparing for its annual comeback. For four days in June, Chicago’s established and up-and-coming blues musicians will perform live and participate in panel discussions.

You know if you do! One of the best blues festivals in the country is the Chicago Blues Fest. Headliners Bobby Rush, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Mavis Staples merely start to tap the music that will be offered during the four-day, multi-stage Chicago Blues Fest on June 5-8, 2025. This weekend is packed with events to please any music enthusiast, including a Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle, a B.B. King Centennial Tribute, and the Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation commemorating the 75th anniversary of Chess Records.

It is definitely worth the travel from Indianapolis to hear this blues-inspired music, which is mostly performed on three closely spaced stages in Millennium Park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Millennium Park is one of the top ten most visited attractions in the United States, as well as the most popular attraction in the Midwest. Furthermore, it serves as the focal point of an urban cultural campus that includes The Art Institute of Chicago, Maggie Daley Park, and the Chicago Cultural Center.

In addition to everything Chicago has to offer, you may enjoy four days of free music from a city known for being the birthplace of the electric blues. Traveling with Nuvo for the weekend is an experience not to be missed!

Highlights

• On June 5, the 41st annual Chicago Blues Festival will take place.
• The Ramova Theatre will host the first night of the four-day blues festival.
• Artists at the event include Jonathan Ellison, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Dawn Tyler Watson.

Chicago Blues Festival Returns With Its 41st Edition

The free summer music festival will carry on its tradition of bringing talented blues musicians to Millennium Park in downtown Chicago. This year will be the 41st edition of the event, which began in 1984 and will feature many days of performances honoring the blues heritage of the city.

Ramova Theatre to Host the Opening Night

The 2025 Chicago Blues Festival will begin on June 5. Live blues panel talks with Jim O’Neal, Brett Bonner, Deitra Farr, Scott Barretta, and Bruce Iglauer will take place on the opening night.

The opening night of the event, which is scheduled to take place at the Ramova Theatre (3520 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60609, United States), will also include a “Up Close & Personal” session with Bobby Rush.

Additional Key Attractions During the Four-Day Event

The main festival will be held at Millennium Park from June 6–8. On June 6, its Jay Pritzker Pavilion will include performances by artists such as Dawn Tyler Watson, John Primer with Steve Bell, and D.K. Harrell. Additionally, artists will honor B.B. King.

Eddie Cotton, Sheryl Youngblood, Rico McFarland, and The Mike Wheeler Band are among the other artists who will pay tribute to the city’s blues heritage on June 6. On June 7 in Millennium Park, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Theo Huff, and VanderCook College of Music will play.

The Chicago Blues Festival’s final day will require attendees to travel to Maxwell Street to see live performances by artists such as Jonathan Ellison and Mavis Staples. On June 8, the final day, the hours will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Important Information for the Free Blues Event in Chicago

Visitors are welcome to bring folding chairs and blankets to the free Chicago Blues Festival. Additionally, they could bring non-alcoholic drinks and snacks to the Millennium Park location downtown. The Chicago event will not allow pets.

The Chicago Blues Festival, which honors the city’s cultural heritage, will provide blues music fans—both new and dedicated—the chance to fully experience its legacy.

Thursday, June 5, marks the beginning of the free celebrations at Bridgeport’s recently restored Ramova Theatre. The opening night, which is co-hosted by WVON 1690, features a double-bill concert with Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues and Bobby Rush, as well as The Blues Sessions with a Living Blues Panel headed by Dick Shurman and a discussion with blues legend Bobby Rush. RSVPs are free and open at ramovachicago.com on May 6.

The action shifts to Millennium Park from Friday through Sunday, with the following acts as the main attractions at Jay Pritzker Pavilion:

The legendary GRAMMY-winning singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples, June 8.

An emerging star in the blues scene and a guitar virtuoso is Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, June.

On June 6, the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center co-presented the B.B. King Centennial Tribute, which included Kingfish, D.K. Harrell, and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band.

A Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle, featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace, and others, is another highlight of the festival. Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation also paid a special tribute to Chess Records on its 75th anniversary, and Lurrie Bell, Latimore, C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, D.K. Harrell, and others gave incredible performances.

The Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage, Rosa’s Lounge Stage, and the recently opened Next Generation of Blues Stage on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace—which is supported by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation—are among the stages located throughout the park.

With performances by Omar Coleman Westside Soul, Marty “Big Dog” Mercer, Harmonica Hinds, and others, Sunday’s Maxwell Street Blues Series brings the sound back to the South Side.

Through its new Citywide Blues Community Funding program, DCASE is also supporting free blues performances throughout the city in the week preceding the festival this year.

Inside the park, foodies may anticipate smokey favorites from Wally’s BBQ Pit. Keep in mind that while food and beverages will be available for purchase on-site, alcohol from outside is not permitted.

The Blues Festival schedule:

Thursday, June 5, opening night at Ramova Theatre

4–5 p.m. – Living Blues Panel Discussion

Featuring Jim O’Neal, Scott Barretta, Brett Bonner, Bruce Iglauer and Deitra Farr, Moderated by Dick Shurman, Introductions by Visit Mississippi’s Michelle McAdoo

5:30–6:30 p.m. – Up Close & Personal with Bobby Rush

Moderated by Julia Miller, President/CEO of Delmark Records, Presented with The Recording Academy – Chicago Chapter

DOUBLE-BILL CONCERT PROGRAM

7:30–8:30 p.m. – Billy Branch & The Sons of Blues

9–10:15 p.m. – Bobby Rush

Friday, June 6, Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:45–4 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

4–5 p.m. – D.K. Harrell

5:15–6:15 p.m. – Dawn Tyler Watson

6:30–7:15 p.m. – John Primer with Steve Bell

7:30–9 p.m. – B.B. King Centennial Tribute

Featuring Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, D.K. Harrell and Jonathan Ellison with the B.B. King Centennial Band, Co-presented with the B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center

Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

Noon–1:15 p.m. – Lady Adrena and LA Band

1:30–2:45 p.m. – Vick Allen featuring the Velvet Soul Band

3–4:15 p.m. – Johnny Rawls Soul Review

4:30–5:45 p.m. – Eddie Cotton

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

12:30–1:45 p.m. – Ivan Singh

2–3:15 p.m. – Jamiah “Dirty Deacon” Rogers and the Dirty Church Band

3:30–4:45 p.m. – Rico McFarland

5–6:15 p.m. – Sheryl Youngblood

6:30–7:45 p.m. – The Mike Wheeler Band

Saturday, June 7, Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:45–4 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

4–5:15 p.m. – Women in Blues Tribute to Denise LaSalle

Featuring Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Thornetta Davis, Nora Jean Wallace and Mzz Reese with Jonathan Ellison

5:30–6:15 p.m. – Joey J. Saye, Stephen Hull and Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport

6:30–7:30 p.m. – Latimore

7:45–9 p.m. – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

Noon–1:15 p.m. – 2 Blues for You

1:30–2:45 p.m. – Jessie Robinson

3–4:15 p.m. – Vickie Baker, The V Souls and The Groove Crew

4:30–5:45 p.m. – John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

12:30–1:45 p.m. – Stefan Hillesheim Band

2–3:15 p.m. – Michael Damani

3:30–4:45 p.m. – Lynne Jordan and The Shivers

5–6:15 p.m. – Joe Barr and The Platinum Band

6:30–7:45 p.m. – Theo Huff

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace, Next Generation of Blues

11–11:45 a.m. – Wendy & DB

Noon–12:45 p.m. – Chicago Blues Revival

1–1:45 p.m. – Curie Metropolitan High School

2–2:45 p.m. – Bandwith

3–4 p.m. – VanderCook College of Music

Sunday, June 8, Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:30–3:45 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

3:45–5 p.m. – Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Chess Records

5:15–6:15 p.m. – C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band

6:30–7:30 p.m. – Lurrie Bell and Frank Catalano

7:45–9 p.m. – Mavis Staples

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

Noon–1:15 p.m. – Stevie J and The Blues Eruption

1:30–2:45 p.m. – Nellie “Tiger” Travis

3–4:15 p.m. – Jonathan Ellison

4:30–5:45 p.m. – Ms. Jody

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

12:30–1:45 p.m. – Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport

2–3:15 p.m. – Jimmy Burns Band

3:30–4:45 p.m. – Nick Alexander Blues Band

5–6:15 p.m. – Sonia Astacio

6:30–7:45 p.m. – 3 by 3 Crew: Freddie Dixon, John Watkins, Maurice Vaughn with Tim Taylor

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace, Next Generation of Blues

11–11:45 a.m. – Wendy & DB

Noon–12:45 p.m. – Chicago Blues Revival

1–1:45 p.m. – Curie Metropolitan High School

2–2:45 p.m. – Bandwith

3–4 p.m. – VanderCook College of Music

Sunday, June 8, Millennium Park

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

3:30–3:45 p.m. – Emcee intro, national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

3:45–5 p.m. – Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Chess Records

5:15–6:15 p.m. – C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band

6:30–7:30 p.m. – Lurrie Bell and Frank Catalano

7:45–9 p.m. – Mavis Staples

Visit Mississippi Crossroads Stage (South Promenade)

Noon–1:15 p.m. – Stevie J and The Blues Eruption

1:30–2:45 p.m. – Nellie “Tiger” Travis

3–4:15 p.m. – Jonathan Ellison

4:30–5:45 p.m. – Ms. Jody

Rosa’s Lounge Stage (North Promenade)

12:30–1:45 p.m. – Harrell “Young Rell” Davenport

2–3:15 p.m. – Jimmy Burns Band

3:30–4:45 p.m. – Nick Alexander Blues Band

5–6:15 p.m. – Sonia Astacio

6:30–7:45 p.m. – 3 by 3 Crew: Freddie Dixon, John Watkins, Maurice Vaughn with Tim Taylor

Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace, Next Generation of Blues

11–11:45 a.m. – Wiggleworms featuring Amanda Payne & Will Fancher of Old Town School of Folk Music

Noon–12:45 p.m. – Fernando Jones Presents the Knott Us Band

1–1:45 p.m. – Kenwood Academy High School

2–2:45 p.m. – Nicholas Senn High School

3–4 p.m. – A Patch of Blues

Sunday, June 8, Maxwell Street Blues Series

Maxwell Street between S. Halsted St. and S. Union Ave.

10–11 a.m. – DJ James Porter